The island's privileged geographic position ,explains both its tumultuous history and the fact that Cyprus has played an important role in the Eastern Mediterranean , through the ages.   The first traces of civilization  date back more than 9000 years to the Neolithic period (8200-3900 BC) . Subsequent culture phases developed   during the Chalcolithic (3900-2500 BC) and Bronze (2500- 2050 BC) age periods until the end of the 2nd millennium BC.

But the most important event in the history of Cyprus was the arrival of Achaean Greek settlers  in the 12th and 11th centuries BC , who decisively determined its cultural identity. Greek  language , religion , arts and traditions were introduced, and   towns founded which still   exists  today.

 Well known to the ancients for its copper mines and forests , Cyprus was an object among the great powers of the Mediterranean  region. Assyrians  , Egyptians and Persians conquered and ruled the island until it was liberated in the 333 BC by the Alexander the Great.

Important events during the Roman period (58BC- 330 AD) were the missionary journeys of Apostles Paul and of the Cypriot born Barnabas , who converted the Roman proconsul to Christianity. Cyprus became the world's first Christian- ruled land and the Cypriots are the first Europeans to have become Christians.

After the division of the Roman Empire , the glorious Byzantine era began when some of the most beautiful churches and renowned monasteries were established. 

On his way to the Holy Land , Richard the Lion Heart, leader of the 3rd crusade , conquered the island (1191 ) , soon sold it to the Knights Templar  who in turn bestowed it on Guy de Lusignan, the ex Frankish King of Jerusalem. His family , originally from Poi tiers of  France , established a Catholic monarchy and ruled Cyprus for 3 centuries. Caterina Cornaro from Venice , the last Lusignan queen , was forced to yield her right s to the Venetian's after the death of her husband who used Cyprus as a bulwark, so securing the commercial and strategic inter-ests against the Ottomans  from  1489-1571.

 They, however , conquered the island and started a very oppressive rule lasting for 3 centuries, when Cyprus's connections with Europe were severed . The latins were expelled but eventually the Greek Orthodox Church which has been oppressed during the period of Lusignan and Venetian rule, recovered its autocephaly  .

With the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 ,  Cyprus's strategic value became even greater . With this in mind , in 1878 Great Britain  took over administration of the island and in 1925 made it a British crown colony. After a four year liberation struggle  , Cyprus became an in depended Republic in 1960.

In 1974 , Turkish forces invaded the north of the island turning one third of the population into refugees. The continued violation of the fundamental human rights of the people of Cyprus has been condemned by international bodies , but to date Turkey has refused to withdraw from Cyprus and maintains the island's division by the force of  arms .

Although the invasion has dealt a tremendous blow to the economy of the island ,  Cyprus has managed to sustain a policy of reconstruction and economic development. Economically and politically Cyprus has aligned itself with the European Union and aspires to become a full member in the near future.

Top